WATCH: Tyrone locals rally to rescue stricken stag

A NEW addition has joined the herd of deer at the Gortin Glen Forest Park after local people came together and rescued a stag knocked down by a car.

When it was discovered that the young Sika deer had been knocked down on the Lisnaharney Road near the forest park, volunteers sprang into action.

Sean Harpur, the founder of the Friends of the Glen group, told the Tyrone Herald that he received a call about the stricken animal in late January and he then contacted the council, police and a Newtownstewart vet practice to respond.

“A lady came up from Strule Veterinary Services to give him pain relief but the animal was unable to get up and she thought he might have internal injuries,” Sean explained.

The rescuers decided to move the stag into a hut inside the fenced deer enclosure at the Gortin Glens Forest Park where he could recuperate.

Sean said, “We thought it might not survive because it had internal injuries after being hit by the car.

“Myself and my wife Rosemary would come over every morning and every night and I would lift it and she would give it some water and grass; we just looked after it for a full week.”

With time and assistance from Sean and Rosemary, the deer was able to stand by itself. “The vet came and gave it some more pain relief and then we let it into the enclosure to see how he would get on with the rest of the deer,” Sean said.

He added, “We just can’t believe how well it’s doing.”

Rangers at the park look after the Sika deer in the enclosure with regular feeds. Given his injuries, it is understood that Chris will not be released back into the wild.

Chris’ ordeal could have a silver lining for the local Sika deer population as Sean says that a new stag could create a new bloodline within the herd and help with their survival.